Barbara Alyn Woods Calls Boyfriend Mark Anderson the ‘Love of My Life’: ‘Don’t Ever Settle’ (Exclusive)

Julia MooreMon, May 18, 2026 at 6:03 PM UTC

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Mark Anderson, Barbara Alyn Woods at Hulu's Get Real House held at Casa Lago on April 22, 2025
Credit: Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty -

Barbara Alyn Woods has been dating Bachelor star Kelsey Anderson's dad, Mark Anderson, since 2024

The actress tells PEOPLE that Mark is "the love of my life" and spills on their "blended families"

Woods' relationship comes after her 2024 divorce from her husband of over 20 years, John Lind, from whom she separated in 2021

Barbara Alyn Woods has found the love of her life.

The One Tree Hill alum, 64, has been dating Mark Anderson, father to The Bachelor's Kelsey Anderson, for a year and a half, and says that he is "the love of my life."

Mark, 59, joined Barbara at the New York City premiere of Dutton Ranch on Tuesday, May 12, where she was supporting her daughter, Natalie Alyn Lind, who stars in the Yellowstone spinoff. His daughter, Taylor, was also in attendance.

"The love of my life is here tonight," Barbara tells PEOPLE on the red carpet of Mark.

"I want to tell women in the entire universe [who are] my age: Don't give up," she says. "Because he's out there. Don't ever settle."

Taylor Anderson, Barbara Alyn Woods, Natalie Alyn Lind and Mark Anderson attend the New York City premiere of "Dutton Ranch" on Tuesday, May 12, 2026
Credit: Todd Williamson/January Images/Shutterstock

Barbara started dating Mark following her 2024 divorce from John Lind, her husband of over 20 years. She and John separated in 2021, according to court documents obtained by PEOPLE. They share daughters Natalie, 25, Emily, 24, and Alyvia, 18.

She says that she and Mark have "the most amazing, blended families." Along with Taylor and Kelsey, Mark is dad to daughter Jordan and sons Pascal and Matthew.

"He has the best kids, and so do I, and they're all friends, and it's just been a blessing for all of us," Barbara says.

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Mark caught Barbara's eye when he appeared on Joey Graziadei's season of The Bacheloras Kelsey introduced the lead to her family during hometowns, and then again during the finale episode. She sent him a DM on Instagram, but he was then announced as part of the cast of The Golden Bachelorette.

"Then I DM him again. I don't know what I said. It was so corny, whatever I said. Like, 'You have a cute smile. You're gonna go a long way in life,' or something stupid," Barbara said on the One Tree Hill rewatch podcast in April last year. "He still didn't respond, but then I realized he's not responding because he's already on the show, because they take your phones away."

She tuned in "every week to see if my boyfriend's gonna get kicked off the show," and Mark eventually replied to her DM.

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Barbara Alyn Woods and Mark Anderson with their kids
Credit: Kelsey Anderson/Instagram

"By the time he got kicked off, he had already responded to me. We started talking through social media," she said. "Then you go to the next step, texting, and then you go the next step and you talk. We started talking, and it's been nonstop."

Barbara said that her daughters "love" Mark and "love seeing me happy."

"They love seeing me being treated correctly," she said. "He's just so soft-spoken, but when he speaks, it just means something."

on People

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”